Throughout His life, the Savior showed an unlimited capacity for compassion as He blessed, lifted, and healed people wherever He went. His focus was to love and serve everyone around Him, then and now. Both through His treatment of others and through the loving gifts that He has provided us to guide us back to Him, Christ continually demonstrates compassion for each of God’s children and invites us to do the same.
In The Great Healer’s Art, Elder Ulisses Soares teaches that just as the Savior is there for us when we seek relief from the pains of this life, He asks us to be His hands, feet, eyes, and ears and to do the things He has bear one another’s burdens, comfort those in need of comfort, mourn with those who mourn, feed the hungry, visit the sick, succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down. Elder Soares teaches, “We each have the opportunity to come unto the Savior and receive the divine compassion that is so needed in our world. As we partake of the gifts the Savior has offered us, we are better able to share His compassion with those around us.” When we practice compassion for others, we practice the Great Healer’s art, sealing up wounds and divisions that might otherwise fester and injure. As we plead for the gifts of charity and compassion and strive to become like Him, we too can bless, lift, and heal those around us.
This book does an amazing job touching on various aspects of compassion! Elder Soares gives tips and meaningful scriptures on how to apply compassions to our lives. It is definitely worth the read!
I enjoyed this outline of the different aspects of compassion and Christianity. I hadn’t considered the power of community in connection with compassion and how we are to care for one another by covenant. I also appreciated the reminders about the sacrament, covenants, and the pursuit of holiness. It is these attributes that will stick with us and that we will be held accountable to at judgment day. Good to learn and apply and keep working at all these things. Thankfully we have grace to help us along.
I love listening to Elder Soares read this. So many of his sermons are about compassion, and he seems like such a compassionate and generous person.
“Feelings of compassion are often awakened in times of great need. But when these feelings are awakened, it is because of they are already within us, it is because of the divinity that exists within us, children of our Heavenly Father who is the ultimate Giver of compassion.”
“Through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life. Not the mountains of rock that beautify the earth but the mountains of misery in your lives.” Nelson April 2021
This is a sweet book of Elder Soares' thoughts about compassion and our Savior's love and how we can learn to receive and share it. Here are some favorite quotes:
"Compassion is an attribute of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and is a gift of the Spirit. It has its roots in the second great commandment: 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself' (p. 1)."
"In His mercy and love, the Lord, who gives liberally, invites us to seek earnestly the best gifts in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before Him, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving (p. 2)."
"There are countless ways in which He shows love, and just as many ways that we can demonstrate our compassion for others and our gratitude for Him. Our Savior's life was full of examples that teach us how to show compassion for those who are in need (p. 2)."
"'Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them.'... This beautiful, healing invitation is extended even today. We each have the opportunity to come unto the Savior and receive the divine compassion that is so needed in our world (p. 3)."
"The Pharisee's holier-than-thou attitude led him to judge unjustly both Jesus and the woman. But in His omniscience, the Savior knew Simon's mind and, in great wisdom, challenged Simon's condescending attitude and admonished him for his lack of courtesy in receiving a special guest like the Savior into his home (p. 5)."
"The compassionate and personalized ministering of Jesus in this account demonstrates a perfect model of how we should interact with our neighbor. The scriptures have countless examples of how the Savior, moved by His deep and abiding compassion, interacted with people of His day and helped those who were suffering (p. 6)."
"Jesus's compassionate acts were not occasional or mandated manifestations based on a list of tasks to be completed but everyday expressions of the reality of His pure love for God and His children and His abiding desire to help them. Jesus was able to identify people's needs even at a distance (p. 7)."
"We should never make harsh and cruel judgment of our neighbor, because we are all in need of understanding and mercy from our loving Heavenly Father for our imperfections (p. 10)."
"Considering we each still have a long way to go to reach perfection, perhaps it would be better to sit at Jesus's feet and plead for mercy for our own imperfections, as did the repentant woman in the Pharisee's house, and not spend so much time and energy fixating on the perceived imperfections of others (p. 12)."
"The Savior spent His life on earth inviting others to come unto Him and find rest (p. 17)."
"'Peace is found in faith in the Lord Jesus Christ' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 18)."
"It is through the Savior Jesus Christ and His healing, atoning sacrifice that we are enabled to stand tall and strong, even in the face of adversity (p. 18)."
"We begin to gain a deep and abiding testimony of His matchless love and the blessings of His great atoning sacrifice. We truly begin to find Him and to recognize Him as the Creator of the earth, the Redeemer of all mankind, the Only Begotten of the Father, the King of kings, the Prince of Peace. The more we draw near unto Him, the more we begin to understand His eternal message of salvation and exaltation. We recognize that He continues to beckon us to come and follow Him and that His doctrine is perfect and every bit as applicable today as it was throughout all previous generations (p. 20)."
"See trials through the eyes of faith. I have learned that healing comes, but int he Lord's time and in His way (p. 22)."
"Jesus Christ is the source of true peace in this world (p. 23)."
"Joy comes from and because of Christ... He is the source of all joy (p. 23)."
"If we are steadfast and do not waver in our faith, the Lord through His love and grace will increase our capacity to raise ourselves above the challenges and heartaches of life (p. 26)."
"We soon felt that we should more strongly align our testimonies with the truths of the gospel we were teaching (p. 27)."
"Place your trust in God and in the teachings of His prophets. Renew your covenants with God, to serve and love Him with all your heart, regardless of the complex situations of life (p. 30)."
"Meekness allows us to see our own weaknesses and be compassionate toward others' weaknesses. At the core of any Christlike charity toward our neighbor is humility (p. 33)."
"Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike (p. 34)."
"Though we are not perfect, the Lord in His loving compassion will help us to become perfected in Him (p. 36)."
"By controlling our reactions, being calm and temperate, and avoiding contention, we will begin to qualify for the gift of meekness (p. 38)."
"I believe that only those who are humble are able to acknowledge and understand the Lord's answers to their prayers (p. 38)."
"The Church organized a branch in his neighborhood in Soweto. This was possible only because of the determination, courage, and faithfulness of people like Brother Mahlangu who remained faithful for so many years under difficult circumstances... Meekness emanated from this good brother's eyes. With a heart full of goodness and deep gratitude, he asked if I could tell our prophet how grateful and blessed he and many others were for having the true gospel in their lives (p. 39)."
"The Savior Jesus Christ is the supreme example of meekness... Thanks to His love, it is possible to change (p. 41)."
"Because He was deeply concerned with the welfare of our Heavenly Father's children, the Lord gave Peter the special charge of feeding His sheep (p. 43)."
"As we study the scriptures, we notice that the Savior ministered to people according to their specific needs (p. 43)."
"The gospel of Jesus Christ is about people, not programs. Sometimes, in the haste of fulfilling our Church responsibilities, we spend too much time concentrating on programs instead of focusing on people, and we end up overlooking their real needs (p. 45)."
"As I was about to have my twelfth birthday, my bishop invited me in for an interview... As the interview was coming to an end, he pulled out a set of forms from his desk and challenged me to fill them out. They were mission call papers. I was astonished. I was only eleven. But that bishop had a vision of the future and of the blessings that would be mine if I prepared properly to serve a mission when my time came (p. 45)."
"Everyone needs to feel loved (p. 46)."
"Christ Himself ministered to people, lifting the heavy-laden, giving hope to the disheartened, and seeking after the ones who were lost. He showed people how much He loved and understood them and how precious they were. He acknowledged their divine nature and eternal value (p. 48)."
"As we follow the Savior's example and teachings, we can assist people to fulfill their earthly mission that they might return to live with our Heavenly Father (p. 49)."
"Our new friends bring God-given talents, excitement, and goodness within them. Their enthusiasm for the gospel can be contagious, thereby helping us revitalize our own testimonies (p. 54)."
"They need brothers and sisters in the Church who are sincerely interested in them, true and loyal friends to whom they can constantly turn, who will walk beside them, and who will answer their questions. As members, we should always be attentive and look for new faces when attending Church activities and meetings, regardless of the responsibilities, assignments, or concerns we may have (p. 55)."
"New friends need an assignment--an opportunity to serve others. Service is one of the greatest aspects of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a process by which our faith can grow stronger (p. 55)."
"We can help them to love and become familiar with the scriptures as we read and discuss their teachings with them (p. 57)."
"Seek the Lord's help in loving others as He has loved you (p. 59)."
"We should understand and have empathy for every person. This is part of developing Christlike compassion (p. 61)."
"When we understand people and their conditions and circumstances, we tend to act in love toward them (p. 62)."
"Our love for others should transcend our differences in culture, ethnicity, or language. We should be patient with others; we should show love and respect for all (p. 63)."
"We all can be instruments in His hands... Service and compassion is not about us... They are about what the Savior, Jesus Christ, wants to accomplish through us (p. 63)."
"We love them because they are children of God (p. 68)."
"Each person you encounter in this life is a beloved son or daughter of heavenly parents (p. 71)."
"Our Savior has given us many ways to help God's children feel His love and recognize His sacrifice for them--to see His arms of compassion reaching out to them (p. 74)."
"The covenant to always remember Him should influence and inspire us in every decision and action in our lives (p. 82)."
"I invite you to always remember and recognize the Savior in your lives (p. 84)."
"If we put our trust in the Savior, in His love, and in His atoning sacrifice, then when we seek for His help, even in the things that are confusing us, Jehovah will be our strength and will help us (p. 84)."
"We all have to seek to learn and to teach one another the gospel of Jesus Christ (p. 87)."
"Our purpose as we seek to learn and to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ must be to increase faith in God and in His divine plan of happiness as well as in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. We must strive for lasting conversion... This transformation will bring us a happier, more productive, and healthier life and help us to maintain an eternal perspective (p. 88)."
"Your friends and dear ones are not totally lost because the Lord knows where they are and is watching over them. Remember, they are His children too (p. 92)!"
"Sincerely rejoice with them in their successes; be their friends and look for the good in them. We should never give up on them (p. 92)."
"Be a good example to others of what you believe, and draw closer to our Savior (p. 92)."
"Remember that hope is an important part of the gospel plan (p. 92)."
"We demonstrate our love for our Father in Heaven and for all of His children as we boldly proclaim the truth of His gospel and recognize the marvelous gift of the restored Church of Jesus Christ (p. 95)."
"One of the signs of Christ's immense love for us is the fact that we are blessed with His words through the scriptures and through the teachings of living prophets in our day (p. 97)."
"Although we live in a time when much difficulty and wickedness abound, I testify that His hand upholds each and every one of us, who He loves and cares for deeply (p. 98)."
"The historical facts and the special witnesses of the Book of Mormon testify that its coming forth was indeed miraculous (p. 99)."
"Like Nephi, delighting in the scriptures fills my heart with a deep awareness of my Savior's love and helps me to feel closer to Him (p. 103)."
"Revealed truth in the scriptures answers the deep questions of my soul and makes me a new and a better man (p. 103)."
"The Book of Mormon is God's instrument to bring about the gathering of Israel in our day and to help people come to know His Son, Jesus Christ, that each of us might feel Their everlasting love (p. 103)."
"It is comforting to know that we are not alone in the world, despite the challenges we face in life (p. 104)."
"We would represent Jesus Christ, seeking to extend His love to all as we testified of Him and His divine mission in the world (p. 106)."
"We are blessed as we exercise our faith (p. 106)."
"One of the glorious messages of the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that God continues to speak to His children as He did in ancient times (p. 110)!"
"Stiving to follow the counsel of living prophets has truly made a difference in my life as I have sought to know the Lord's will for me (p. 113)."
"As you make an effort to seek out and follow prophetic counsel, you will be led in your search to specific direction that will be pertinent and helpful to you in your individual situation (p. 114)."
"One of the ways He expresses His love for us is by continuing to reveal His will to us through living prophets (p. 114)."
"Elder Christofferson greeted each person individually. Watching these faithful members greet a prophet of God is something I will never forget. Some would grasp his extended hand for quite some time; others would kiss his palm and hold his hand to their face. Some would simply reach out and touch his clothing in love and awe... these good members were experiencing the loving compassion of the Lord through His servants, and their hearts were filled with love for one another in turn (p. 115)."
"'How could I send them to school when they had an opportunity to come here and be with a prophet of God?' (p. 118)"
"We are sent by the Savior Jesus Christ to minister to all (p. 118)."
"Everything I have found in my personal study of the scriptures and in the teachings of modern-day prophets is evidence and reassurance of the Lord's pure compassion for me, personally, and for all His children (p. 119)."
"Jesus... called faithful and dedicated men to serve as prophets of God... They are a gift from a compassionate Savior to guide us back to Him. Let us follow their teachings, that we may find safety and peace and feel the loving embrace of our Savior Jesus Christ (p. 119)."
"Repentance is a wonderful gift that is available to all who desire to return to God (p. 124)."
"Our choices shape our souls. Recognizing our dedication and perseverance, the Lord will show compassion on us and give us what we are unable to obtain by ourselves (p. 126)."
"As we experience the merciful, perfect compassion firsthand, we grow in love and gratitude for Jesus Christ and His Father, standing in awe of the grace They offer us (p. 127)."
"Healing also requires time. My invitation is for all of us to allow the Lord to mold and transform our lives into our potential--into that which our Heavenly Father has planned for us (p. 129)."
"Our returning is only possible through Jesus Christ, and His atoning sacrifice--the most majestic, most immeasurable, and most compassionate act that has occurred in all of human history (p. 129)."
"'Salvation could not come to the world without the mediation of Jesus Christ. God... prepared a sacrifice in the gift of His own Son' (Joseph Smith, p. 131)."
"The gift of repentance is an expression of God's compassion toward His children, and it is a demonstration of His incomparable power to help us overcome the sins we commit (p. 132)."
"He understands all of the bitterness, agony, and physical pain as well as the emotional and spiritual challenges we face (p. 132)."
"We will receive the strength we all need to overcome the hardships, weaknesses, and sorrows of life (p. 133)."
"To help His disciples understand that devotion to His work includes submission and suffering as an act of compassion, the Savior emphatically declared: 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me' (p. 135)."
"There is always hope in God the Father and in His plan of happiness, in Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice, and in living Their loving commandments (p. 137)."
"We need to come before the Lord with our weakness and implore His help and forgiveness, especially during the sacred moment when we partake of the sacrament each Sunday. May we choose to seek His help and take an important and difficult step by forgiving those who have hurt us so that our wounds may begin to heal (p. 140)."
"Taking our cross upon ourselves includes being humble and trusting in God and in His infinite wisdom. We must acknowledge that He loves us and is aware of each of us and our needs (p. 142)."
"Taking upon us our cross and following the Savior requires us to follow His example and strive to become like Him, patiently facing the circumstances of life, denying and despising the appetites of the natural man, waiting on the Lord, and feeling the Lord's compassion for us and sharing it with others (p. 145)."
"We learn through the scriptures of our Heavenly Father's purpose for His children... 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man' (p. 147)."
"Everything about who God is and what He sent Christ to do demonstrates Their supreme love and compassion for each of us (p. 147)."
"Pleasure is often confused with happiness, but it is by no means synonymous with it (p. 148)."
"Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards... Virtuous people possess a quiet dignity and inner strength (p. 150)."
"For happiness now and throughout your life, steadfastly obey the Lord (p. 153)."
"God blesses us according to our faith... As you go forward in your journey of faith, you will likely go through periods of testing where you will be tried to see if you will do all things that the Lord your God shall command you. This is part of the mortal life experience (p. 153)."
"Holiness is related to spiritual and moral perfection (p. 154)."
"All the promised blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be ours through our faithfulness to the ordinances and covenants we make before God and Jesus Christ in the temple (p. 156)."
"Happiness involves keeping all the commandments of God (p. 56)."
"The golden pathway to happiness is one of selflessness and of giving love--the kind of love that has concern, interest, and some measure of charity for every living soul... Striving to incorporate the Great Healer's art of compassion in ourselves is the direct route to the happiness that will enrich and bless our lives and the lives of others (p. 157)."
"True and lasting happiness comes only when we choose to 'love the Lord' (p. 159)."
"The Savior showed unlimited capacity for compassion... He blessed the little ones, healed the sick, comforted the mourners, raised the dead, cleansed repentant sinners, wept for unbelievers (p. 161)."
"Our beloved Savior invites us to be His hands in helping, serving, and succoring those in need (p. 162)."
"Our Savior is waiting for each of us to seek Him, that He might provide the relief we need (p. 162)."
"As we love and serve our brothers and sisters, we will find ourselves becoming one with God and Jesus Christ (p. 163)."
Insightful book on compassion by Ulisses Soares. Broad in its scope to reflect on what we learn about compassion through the example of our Savior Jesus Christ, and how we can personally develop it. I learned a lot.
Quotes/Ideas to remember:
When we practice compassion for our fellow man, we practice the Great Healer’s art, helping to seal up wounds and divisions that might otherwise fester and injure.
The compassionate attitude of Jesus is rooted in charity, namely, in His pure and perfect love, which is foundational to His atoning sacrifice. Compassion is a fundamental characteristic of those who strive for sanctification, and this divine quality intertwines with other Christlike traits such as mourning with those who mourn and having empathy, mercy, and kindness. The expression of compassion for others is, in fact, an essential aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a marked evidence of our spiritual and emotional closeness to the Savior.
Considering we each still have a long way to go to reach perfection, perhaps it would be better to sit at Jesus’s feet and plead for mercy for our own imperfections, as did the repentant woman in the Pharisee’s house, and not spend so much time and energy fixating on the perceived imperfections of others.
One of the great lessons I have learned in my life is to see trials through the eyes of faith. I have learned that healing comes, but in the Lord’s time and in His way. Without seeing our trials with the eyes of faith and trusting in the Lord’s wisdom, it is difficult to endure in our challenges.
Faith is a practical principle that inspires diligence. It is a vital, living force manifested in our positive attitude and desire to willingly do everything that God and Jesus Christ ask of us. Faith can take us to our knees to implore the Lord for guidance and move us to arise and act with confidence to achieve things consistent with His will.
By the power of your unwavering faith in Christ, you will become free of the captivity of sin, of doubt, of unbelief, of unhappiness, of suffering, and of contention, and you will receive all of the blessings our loving Heavenly Father has promised.
Meekness is the quality of those who are “Godfearing, righteous, humble, teachable, and patient under suffering.” Those who possess this Christlike attribute are willing to follow Jesus Christ. They are submissive to God, and their temperament is calm, docile and patient. Meekness allows us to see our own weaknesses and be compassionate toward others’ weaknesses. At the core of any Christlike charity toward our neighbor is humility.
At these moments and in other difficult situations, we must learn to control our temper and convey our feelings with patience and gentle persuasion. This is most important within our home and in our relationship with our spouse.
As shepherds, we must understand that we should nurture each one of our sheep to bring them to Christ, which is the purpose of all that we do in this Church.
[Challenge from a bishop to fill out mission papers after Aaronic Priesthood interview to be ordained a deacon.] That bishop had a vision of the future and of the blessings that would be mine if I prepared properly to serve a mission when my time came.
Christ Himself ministered to the people, lifting the heavy-laden, giving hope to the disheartened, and seeking after the ones who were lost. He showed people how much He loved and understood them and how precious they were.
Eventually, as we encourage, support, and love each other, we combine to form a mighty force for good in the world. As followers of Jesus Christ, flowing as one in this river of goodness, we will be able to provide the “fresh water” of the gospel to a thirsty world.
A modern-day prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, described a manifestation of this pure love of Christ as ministering, which is a more focused and holier approach to love and care for other individuals like the Savior did.
Feelings of compassion are often awakened in times of great need. But when these feelings are awakened, it is because they are already within us; it is because of the divinity that exists within us, children of Heavenly Father, who is the ultimate giver of compassion.
So, that’s the answer from the Savior for the question of how we interact with those who are very different from us: show a genuine love for them.
We cannot repent for the mistakes other people make, but we can forgive them. In so doing, we can free ourselves of being someone’s judge. We surrender to the Lord, and we stop carrying this heavy burden ourselves. Nurturing negative feelings is on our hearts is a roadblock to healing, and ultimately, to happiness. If we let these feelings go, the Savior can heal our hearts and can help us feel joy once again.
Remember that forgiving others can be an expression of our faith and testimony of the Savior and of the opportunity for forgiveness that He has extended to all of God’s children through His atoning sacrifice.
Our strength as an individual depends on how we respond to the tests of life.
“How can my children learn except a mother should guide them?”
“Believe in the Lord your God so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper” (2 Chronicles 20:20). Much of what the Lord reveals to His prophets amounts to an act of compassion intended to prevent sorrow for us as individuals and as societies.
Repentance allows the Lord in His mercy to shape our lives and make us into beautiful works of art.
Our choices shape our souls. Recognizing our dedication and perseverance, the Lord will show compassion on us and give us what we are unable to obtain by ourselves.
As we strive to make daily repentance a part of our lives, we replace the emptiness that comes from sin with the love that comes from the atoning sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Naturally, as we appreciate Their infinite mercy more and more, we become patient and empathetic in our interactions with others, viewing each other’s challenges and shortcomings with love and understanding rather than criticism. As we experience the Savior’s atoning power for ourselves, we can become more Christlike.
We need to trust the Lord enough to be still and know that He is God, that He knows all things, and that He is aware of each of us.
Our happiness is the design of all the blessings He gives us—gospel teachings, commandments, priesthood ordinances, family relationships, prophets, temples, the beauties of creation, and even the opportunity to experience adversity.
“Recognize that enduring happiness comes from what you are, not from what you have. Real joy comes from righteous character, and that is built from a pattern of consistent righteous decisions.” -Richard G. Scott
Our beloved Savior invites us to be His hands in helping, serving, and succoring those in need. He invites us to be His feet so that we might run to those who are in need of our help and service. He invites us to be His eyes so that we might always be looking for opportunities to serve. He invites us to be His ears so that we ever listen for those who might be crying out for help. He, in all His compassion and mercy, acted on behalf of those looking for physical, spiritual, or emotional healing. And in one way or another, we all will certainly at some point in our lives seek relief at the Savior’s feet from our burdens, our sorrows, and our challenges. I promise you that our Savior is waiting for each of us to seek Him, that He might provide the relief we need.
"Compassion is a fundamental characteristic of those who strive for sanctification, and this divine quality intertwines with other Christlike traits such as mourning with those who mourn and having empathy, mercy, and kindness. The expression of compassion for others is, in fact, an essential aspect of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a marked evidence of our spiritual and emotional closeness to the Savior... it shows the level of influence we allow Him to have on our way of life and demonstrates the magnitude of our spirits." p 7
"We feel very grateful for the opportunity to extend our empathy to those who suffer, as the Savior does for us. We feel we ease our pain every time we relieve someone else's pain." p 8
"Even though we were put here on this earth in different circumstances, we should not blame or ridicule one another because of that. Our different circumstances of life can be a unique experience to grow. We can learn from different people's point of view. As we live with our differences and try to learn from them and improve ourselves, we become more understanding and more like our Savior.
"One of the strongest powers in the world is the power of the pure love of Christ, which is charity. Charity is a Christlike attribute. As we charitably give of ourselves to people, they can feel this type of love that the Savior has for them. We all can be an instrucment in His hands in that regard. Service and compassion are not about us - not about me or about you. They are about what the Savior, Jesus Christ, wants to accomplish through us. That is why the Lord gives us the opportunity to serve. We are called to help people to feel the Savior's love." p 63
"The righteous man strives for self-improvement knowing that he has daily need of repentance for his misdeeds or his neglect... He endeavors to make each day his masterpiece so that at night's close he can witness in his soul and to his God that whatever has come to his hand that day, he has done to the best of his ability." p 154
A wonderful overview, with many practical examples, of how to better show Christlike compassion as a part of our covenant relationship with Him and our earthly family. An underrated part of the book may be its examination of the Atonement in the final chapters, and its relationship to compassion. In Elder Soares’s examination, the Atonement leaves the realm of the mystical and mysterious and becomes a very real, personal example for believers to internalize and allow to motivate them to become more compassionate.
Elder Ulisses Soares has the sweetest disposition and it shines through in his writing of this precious little book. He teaches us that, just as the Savior is there for us when we seek relief, He asks us to be His hands, feet, eyes, and ears to do the things He has done for those within our circle/community.
Soares says, "When we practice compassion for others, we practice the Great Healer's art, sealing up wounds and divisions that might otherwise fester and injure."
Would that our world in 2023 could but "practice" as Soares suggests...the world would certainly be a better place.
Elder Ulisses Soares of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teaches that just as the Savior is there for us when we seek relief from the pains of this life, He asks us to be His hands, feet, eyes, and ears and to do the things He has bear one another’s burdens, comfort those in need of comfort, mourn with those who mourn, feed the hungry, visit the sick, succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down.
A beautiful and inspiring book. I really loved it.
A book about Jesus and His essence: compassion ♥️, and how we can participate in it, too, full of various testimonies and injunctions: peace, anchoring, truth, “light, understanding, [and] joy.” The conclusion is especially heartwarming to read right before Easter.
Wow about his bishop when he was twelve! Chapter 4 emphasizes the importance of new members and strengthening them. The etymology of “remember” is fascinating. And I loved the story about the Mahlangus, too.
“We will be known as peacemakers, whose words are as gentle as the dew of a spring morning.”
In a world that often seems harsh, unforgiving, filled with wrath and anger and vengeance, Elder Soares reminds us that the Savior Jesus Christ's way is a better way. His teachings and example, as challenging as they are to truly implement in our lives, will lead us to greater peace and joy--individually, in our families, and in our communities, on any scale. The principles found in this book can help us soften our hearts and turn to the way of Christ, which will ultimately lead us to the Father.
Church books, in general, take more concentration and effort on my part to focus. My mind will sometimes wander off. I had to go back and listen to some chapters again. My favorite chapter was Chapter 6, Always Remember Him. Several great points that I took time to jot down. As a side note, a handful of times Elder Soares' pronunciations of words were a distraction because it was different than I'm used to hearing.
I chose this book based upon the subject title, compassion. I quickly found however, that it was less about compassion than it is about Christian discipleship. I highly recommend this book, but just be aware the title is a little different from most of the book's content.
Book is fluffed with many black & white photos from Adobe Stock. I suspect that was the publisher's marketing department more than the author's preference.
Beautiful little book. I loved reading the inspired words of Elder Soares. We know that none is more compassionate than the Savior and Elder Soares perfectly articulated what compassion is, how to develop it, give it, receive it, and cherish it by following the example of the Savior. I definitely want to pick up a physical copy to annotate my favorite excerpts and record my revelations.
What a fantastic little book full of stories from the scriptures of how Jesus Christ was compassionate and how we need to follow his example. Elder Soares also gave examples of how we should show compassion toward ourselves and others. Just a great book. I need to keep it close at hand to read it often to remind myself of what I should be doing.
Ulisses Soares uses stories from the scriptures (especially the New Testament) and real life to instruct the reader how we can follow the Savior by being more compassionate, loving, forgiving and faithful. This is an inspiring book with principles all followers of Christ should seek after.
A wonderful recounting of God’s purpose for mankind and of what we might do to find true joy in mortality. Elder Soares share wonderful insight, moving examples and inspiring stories as he bears Apostolic Testimony of Jesus Christ and His great compassion for each of us!
Ulisses Soares gives different examples of the Savior showing compassion. He also shares examples from his own life where he has personally seen compassion being shown. It's a very nice, inspiring book.
If you are a member of the LDS church, you will enjoy reading it. It only took me three Sacrament meetings to read it. Just kidding. I gained insights on compassion I had not thought of before.
Don't know what was going on but pages were about 50 more than shown. Soares makes it look very possible for us to try to follow Christ and gain the compassion that he had for all of us. At least we can all try a little harder to do this.
Despite the fact that it took me 18 months to actually sit down and finish this book, it was very easy to read. It provides a lot of wonderful insight into the Savior’s compassion and how to develop that quality within ourselves. Highly recommend.